Garment-weight.



Patented July 7, 1914.

M. E. ROARKE.

GARMENT WEIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED APR.10, 1913.

ll lilll'l'll ifl I!!! II I 1111 Mary E Rourke THE NORRIS PETERS CQ. PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTONv D. C.

MARY E. BOARKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GARMENT-WEIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July '7, 1914.

Application filed. April 10, 1913. Serial No. 760,301.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARY E. ROARKE, citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment- Weights; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to garment weights, and more especially to those manufactured in tape form of variable lengths and widths.

The primary object of the invention is in the provision of an article of manufacture of the class described which is composed of pliable material or fabric which is susceptiole of a slight elasticity to which is secured a plurality of closely assembled weights, the

latter however being slightly separated and the flexible material entirely inclosing and overlapping the weights thus assembled, whereby a smooth and uninterrupted surface is presented on both sides of the tape.

Another ob 'ect of the invention consists in a garment weight constructed in such a manner that the same will always retain its original formation, however permitting the free uninterrupted movement and flexibility of garment to which the same is attached.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

Figure 1 is a plan View of the invention with a portion of the cover removed therefrom to show the interior construction of the same; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is also a front elevation of the invention showing a slight modification of the invention wherein a single row of weights are employed with a part of the cover broken away; Fig. 4; is a further modification showing a longer tape to that shown in Fig. 1 but similarly constructed; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the weight which is employed in carrying out the invention; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 7 is an end view of the weight; Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of a weight showing a modification of the invention in this respect.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention 1 represents a sheetof textile fabric weights are provided 7 the body,

preferably of canvas but it must necessarily be thoroughly pliable and slightly elastic.

To the strip of flexible material 1 is secured a shorter strip 2 which is held in position when the weights 3 are secured in position as hereinafter described.

The weights 3 are especially designed for the purpose and are concavo convex in cross section or cupshaped as clearly shown. The with openings 5 which are in aline'ment and centrally disposed through which a thread is passed and through the textile fabric, whereby said weights are held in their proper position in respect to one another and further securing the fabrics 1 and 2 together.

As clearly shown the corners of the weights 8 are slightly rounded and while the edges of said weights. are separated, they are closely assembled in order that the material which covers the same will'not become creased or lose its original formation during the usual wear after the tape has been properly secured to a garment, said tape compensating for the variable positions of the weights thus assembled and secured to the flexible material causing the same to always assume its original or normal position. Surrounding the weights 3 thus attached to the fabric is secured felt 6 or other pliable material of a like nature which compensates substantially for the thickness of the weights whereby-the outer edges of the outer row of weights are covered and protected, and when the sheets of the textile fabric 2 and 3 are secured by sewing or stitching in a manner shown in Fig. 2, the edges of the tape thus constructed will be soft and pliable and no discomfort whatever will be experienced by the wearer when.

the garment is in use.

In Fig. 8 a slight modification of the invention is shown wherein the edges of the weight are covered by tape or flexible material 3 so that should the edges of the weights come together during the movement of the'srarment the tape will be rendered more pliable. The garment weight as herein shown and described can be manufactured by machinery at a small cost and produced in perfect and complete form for ready and convenient attachment to a dress or other garment.

It is to be understood that any number of weights may be assembled side by side in order to provide a sufficient "weight and thatthe tapes may be of suitable length; all of which is apparent.

The extended tabs 7 which form Opposite ends of the tape provide efficient means for sewing or otherwise securing the tape to the However it is evident that said,

are employed which are separated from each other and circular in form, whereby in a J short length of'time' the material of which the garment is composed would show creases and expose the formation of the weights thus employed along the length of the tape. Again such weights are separated but secured together by a strip or string whereby in time the weights will become loosened and more closely assembled and therefore the full intents and purposes ofthe invention are'destroyed. These objections cannot possibly occur in the construction herein shown and described, as it is obvious that by the employment of the closely assembled rectangular. shaped units or weights and providing suflicient space between the same to permit the necessary movement of the garment, the results previously referred to are accomplished.

If found desirable the fabrics 2 and 3 may be overlapped at'their edges and stitched or otherwise secured whereby a smooth edgeis presented, and it is further to be noted that a single tape may be provided with a variable number of weights as may be required.

connection with the accompanying .draw-v.

ings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation. Various changes in the form, proportion 5and the minordetails of constructionmay be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of'the advantages of the claimed invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A garment weight comprising a tape having a pocket secured thereto, a series of weights secured within the pocket'thus c0nstructed and provided with openings where- 5' by they may be secured within the pocket adjacent to one another, and a cushioning j material arranged in said pocket around the edges of the series of weights.

2. A garment weight comp-rising a tape composed of a strip of material, a'pocket secured to the same but shorter than said material, said pockethaving overlapping edges which are secured together, a strip of pliable material located within the pocket adjacent to the edges thereof whereby a space is formed, rectai'igular shaped weights secured within the space formed by said pliable material, and means for securing the weights to the pocket and textile material.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence oftwo subscribing wit- ;nesses.

' MARY E. ROARKE.

Witnesses:

J. B. RAMIREZ, WM. F. HAELY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of 'Patents.

'. Washington, D. G. 

